Greek media's fake news on Edirne: The Mufti of Xanthi and the Turkish Minority dangerously targeted
Greek media outlet I Vradini, known for its far-right stance and opposition to the Turkish minority, published a story titled “A Dangerous and Strange Story in Thrace” on October 26, 2024, targeting Mustafa Trampa, the elected Mufti of Xanthi. In a campaign perceived as hostile toward Western Thrace’s Turkish minority, Vradini.gr alleged that Trampa’s recent speech in Edirne was an "attack" on Greece, despite his comments focusing on social justice issues faced by the Turkish minority.
Trampa’s speech highlighted the ethnic discrimination and barriers faced by the Turkish minority, particularly in religious and educational spheres, calling on Greek authorities to rectify these issues. His remarks were aimed at advancing democracy and freedom in Greece, yet I Vradini portrayed them as a hostile act, distorting his message for sensationalist purposes.
The article raises an important question: Does the Greek state similarly label its global diaspora as "dangerous" whenever they voice grievances over rights violations? For instance, Fredi Beleri, the Albanian-Greek mayor of Himara and a member of Greece’s ruling party, has been openly critical of Albanian policies toward the Greek minority in Albania. Yet his advocacy has not resulted in him being framed as a threat to Albanian society, as Trampa’s activism has in Greece.
Additionally, I Vradini insinuates a conspiracy involving Turkish institutions and Turkish NGOs in Europe, suggesting that organizations such as the Western Thrace Turkish Federation in Europe and the Istanbul-based Western Thrace Turkish Solidarity Association are engaging in coordinated efforts to destabilize Greece, a claim that lacks credible evidence. These organizations, operating legally under international law, aim to preserve the cultural, linguistic, and religious rights of the Turkish minority in Greece. Trampa’s speech emphasized the importance of these basic rights, stressing the need for support rather than suspicion.
Claims of an “Operations Unit” established by Türkiye’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Edirne in 2012 to allegedly coordinate Turkish activities in the Balkans were also included in the article without evidence. By presenting such narratives without substantiation, I Vradini adds fuel to ongoing tensions, turning a spotlight on the Turkish minority in ways that heighten social and political risks for this community.
As divisive narratives against the Turkish minority persist in Greek media, democratic principles and minority rights in Greece must be upheld. Greek society and its media must reject such propaganda, embracing an inclusive approach that fosters peace and understanding within its borders.
